Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park becomes final contender in New York casino race

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park in Queens has become the fourth and final bid to advance in New York’s race for three downstate casino licenses, following a unanimous 6-0 approval from its Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

The $8 billion proposal, a joint venture between New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, joins three other finalists: Resorts World NYC in Queens, MGM Empire City in Yonkers, and Bally’s Bronx.

“On behalf of Hard Rock, I want to sincerely thank the CAC, our partners, and the Queens community for their trust and collaboration. Reaching this stage with a unanimous vote is a true honor, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to move forward together toward the next step,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International, in a statement.

All four bids will now move to the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB), which is set to make its recommendations by December 1. The state Gaming Commission will issue final decisions on up to three licences by Dec. 31. If all licenses are awarded, New York would receive $1.5 billion in fees upfront.

“While the Mets may not make the playoffs, we can consider this a home run for Citi Field and for Queens,” said Queens Borough President Donovan J. Richards Jr., a member of the advisory committee.

The Metropolitan Park plan would transform Citi Field’s surrounding parking lots into a mixed-use district featuring a Hard Rock-branded hotel, casino, and entertainment venue, along with 25 acres of park space. The project is inspired by “walkable village” developments around U.S. ballparks in cities such as Atlanta and Arlington.

The CAC process marked a crucial hurdle in the competitive downstate licensing round. Several high-profile proposals were rejected earlier this month, including Caesars Palace Times Square, the Avenir on Manhattan’s Far West Side, Freedom Plaza near the United Nations, and The Coney in Brooklyn.

Resorts World and MGM Empire City are seen as frontrunners due to their existing casino-like operations, which offer faster launch timelines of 2026 and 2027, respectively. Metropolitan Park is targeting a 2030 opening, while Bally’s has yet to disclose construction details.

The GFLB will assess bids primarily on economic impact weighted at 70%, with additional considerations for local siting (10%), workforce plans (10%), and diversity commitments (10%).

Assemblymember Larinda Hooks, who chaired the committee that approved the Metropolitan Park bid, defended the process. “We have a process; it’s always the person on the losing end who is going to say we weren’t heard, but it’s the same process for everyone,” she told the Queens Eagle. “It was fair on both parts. It’s a process, and the process was fine.”